AN ORIENTALIST PORCELAIN STATUETTE OF AN OTTOMAN SULTAN AND HIS CONCUBINE
Paris, France, ca. 1850, marked 'Exp. 1844 / F. R.' for Francisque Rousseau

A typical porcelain Turquerie, painted in overglaze polychrome enamels and gilt, with an Ottoman sultan standing on the left-hand side lifting the veil of one of his concubines to better appreciate her beauty, both figures wearing colourful sumptuous brocaded robes and gold-embroidered overcoats with typical Islamic patterns, the sultan with a jambiya dagger tucked into his polychrome sash around his waist, the concubine with several strings of pearls around the forehead and neck, and holding a fan on one hand, on a rectangular pedestal painted with colourful volutes, spirals and floral triumph, the interior of the base marked in iron-red Medaille d'Or Exp. 1844 F. R. Breveté Fournisseur du Roi, 31cm x 22cm x 10cm.

The initials F. R. on the base stand for Francisque Rousseau, a renowned French decorator and gilder heading two workshops in Paris between 1837 and 1853. In 1844, Rousseau patented a technique he designed to make porcelain gilding unalterable and more durable. In the same year, he was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Exhibition, principally thanks to the vibrancy of his colours and the outstanding quality of his gilding. This great success eventually granted him the title of Official Supplier of the King (Fournisseur du Roi) in 1847.